Issue - meetings

The report seeks the Planning Committee’s agreement that Article 4 Directions removing Permitted Development rights for smaller scale Houses in Multiple Occupation (i.e.C4 Use Class), be established covering the three specific Wards of Marine and Hotham (Bognor Regis) and River (Littlehampton). The report further seeks that the harm to the specific wards that is identified in the BRE evidence study is used as a material consideration for decision making.

Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Planning Policy Team Leader presented the report which sought the Committee’s agreement that Article 4 Directions removing Permitted Development rights for smaller scale Houses in Multiple Occupation (i.e. C4 Use Class) be established covering the three specific wards of Marine and Hotham (Bognor Regis) and River (Littlehampton). The report further sought that the harm to the specific wards that was identified in the Building Research Establishment Ltd’s evidence study be used as a material consideration for decision making. A typographical error was noted in the Officer report for the date of commencement in the first recommendation, and that it should have read 2 November 2022 rather than 2 November 2021. The Group Head of Planning did explain to Members that these proposals were no guarantee of fewer HMOs in future and would be tested at the Appeals stage, and that in making their decision Members needed to balance the need for additional control which would generate more work for the Planning Department with no additional fee income as these would not attract a planning application fee. He also proposed that the word ‘refusing’ be replaced with ‘determining’ in the third recommendation so as not to predetermine any future planning application. This change was agreed by Members.

Members who spoke welcomed the proposals being made and thanked Officers for the work involved in bringing this report to Committee. Guaranteeing the health and safety of Arun’s residents was stressed as was the detrimental impact too high a concentration of HMOs could have on an area. It was widely agreed that the recommendations of this report would be of benefit to the wider community of Arun and it was welcomed that it was going out to consultation.The recommendation was then proposed by Councillor Bower and seconded by Councillor Lury.

The Committee

RESOLVED - That

1.    Notice be given of the authority’s intention to designate Article 4 Directions under Article 4 (1) Schedule 3 (1) separately, for the three Wards of Marine, Hotham and River, following a notice period of six weeks (including to the Secretary of State) commencing on 2 November 2022 (which specifies a twenty one day representation period).

2.    Any representations and amendments be reported back to Planning Committee on 11 January 2023, prior to recommending the Article 4 Directions be confirmed by Full Council on 18 January 2023 to commence on 19 January 2023.

3.    The collective evidence studies demonstrably showed harm to the wards of River, Marine and Hotham, arising from the concentration of HMO developments and that this be used as a material consideration in determining further HMO proposals in those areas.